White House: Trump 'would not recommend' special prosecutor for Epstein files

President Trump would not recommend appointing a special prosecutor to look into the case of disgraced financier and sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, the White House said Thursday, rebuffing calls from some allies.

“The idea was floated from someone in the media to the president. The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That's how he feels,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing.

Leavitt's remarks come as Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has called for a special counsel to review the handling of Epstein documents. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is backing a discharge petition in the House started by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

Other prominent voices in the MAGA movement have also urged Trump to do more to share information around the Epstein case, which has been a source of rampant conspiracy theories over the years.

Leavitt argued Trump had directed his Justice Department to conduct a “thorough review” of the Epstein case earlier in his term. She also pointed to his recent comments saying Attorney General Pam Bondi should release any additional “credible” evidence.

But Trump has in recent days expressed frustration with the ongoing focus on the Epstein case among even some of his strong supporters.

“Some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats’ work,” Trump said Wednesday.

Many Trump supporters have pushed for additional disclosures after the FBI and Justice Department last week stated Epstein did not have a client list and that his 2019 death at his New York City jail cell was a suicide.

Several prominent Trump supporters have for years pushed conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death and claims that a client list would reveal ties between Epstein and prominent Democrats.